According to research conducted by Smart Growth America, California is the 16th most dangerous state for pedestrians, just below Arkansas and just above Missouri. Our state averages two pedestrian deaths for every 100,000 people. The national average is 1.89.
Under COVID restrictions and with more people staying home, it would be reasonable to assume that pedestrian accidents have decreased over the past few years. The truth is, they have increased, at times exponentially. And the most at risk are children and the elderly.
2020 saw close to a 21% increase in pedestrian fatalities and preliminary data from 2021 shows the same trajectory. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, an average of seven of these fatal pedestrian accidents weekly involve children, with an additional 289 resulting in serious injury. This makes discussing pedestrian safety with your children all the more pressing.
Staying Safe
Talking to your kids at a young age about pedestrian safety is one of the most effective ways to help protect them against injury in a pedestrian accident. It is a good idea to accompany smaller children, but as kids age, it is important to empower them to take their safety into their own hands. This includes instructing them to:
- Use the sidewalk or a designated walking path
- Cross the street at crosswalks
- Look both ways before crossing
- Only cross when signals indicate its safe
- Remain visible
- Stay aware of traffic and surroundings
- Travel with friends or in a larger group
Talking to your children about pedestrian safety may help them avoid an accident, but even the most responsible of kids can’t always dodge an inattentive, aggressive, or negligent driver. In these cases, it’s a good idea to get in touch with a law firm that focuses on child injury where you can learn about your rights and your options for seeking compensation.
The Cifarelli Law Firm proudly represents children and their families in complex cases involving all types of sexual abuse and personal injury. If you need legal representation, please give us a call at 949-502-8600 to schedule a free case review today. We represent families living throughout the Greater Los Angeles area from our offices in Irvine.
